Research Article - Current Pediatric Research (2019) Volume 23, Issue 2
Study of Vitamin D and melatonin supplementation as adjuvant therapies in neonatal jaundice
Background: Neonatal jaundice is a common problem in neonates which is treated by various methods to avoid the development of complication especially bilirubin encephalopathy or kernicterus.
Patient and methods: This is a prospective clinical trial was done from July 2016 to January 2018 in Tanta University Hospital on 150 neonates suffering from neonatal jaundice. The studied neonates were divided into 3 Groups: Group 1 who was treated by vitamin D and phototherapy, Group 2 who were treated by melatonin and phototherapy and Group 3 who were treated by phototherapy alone.
Results: The serum bilirubin was significantly declined in neonates of group 1 who were treated by vitamin D and phototherapy, compared with neonates of Group 2 and 3 who were treated with combined melatonin with phototherapy and phototherapy, respectively with p-value equal 0.009* and 0.001* respectively. There was a significant decrease in serum bilirubin levels in neonate of Group 2 who was treated with melatonin and phototherapy if compared with Group 3 who was treated by phototherapy alone with p-value equal 0.003*.
Conclusion: Vitamin D and melatonin could be used as adjuvant therapies in neonatal jaundice in combination with phototherapy with superiority of vitamin D over melatonin.
Author(s): Mohamed Shawky Elfarargy*, Dina Adam Ali, Ghada Mohammad Al-Ashmawy